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Friday, November 28, 2014

Breaking for Black Friday

Taking a break today from the regularly scheduled five to shop!
Don't forget to check out the amazing sales I mentioned earlier this week at Marley Lilly. Including this FREE Christmas plaid blanket scarf with any $100 purchase today! 
 
 
We're off to do a little shopping now, hoping to snag a few items I have my eyes on. I hope everyone has a wonderful and festive weekend!
 
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Wednesday, November 26, 2014

Marley Lilly Feature & Thanksgiving Day Outfits

If you know me at all you know I’m a southern belle at heart and love to monogram everything! “If it’s not moving, monogram it!”  So, last week when I came home to an unexpected package from one of my favorite companies, Marley Lilly I was very excited to say the least. I may have squealed like a little girl while standing in the kitchen opening up my new goodies. Marley Lilly was nice enough to send me my own monogrammed luxe cross body clutch in chestnut color and one of their new tassel monogrammed bracelets. I absolutely adore both!


I had my eye on a Marley Lilly monogrammed clutch forever and I just love the one I received. I mean, how cute is this? I was looking for an alternative to my older outdated cloth cross body purse and I love how classy this cross body looks, the monogram is just an extra plus for me! The clutch is the perfect size for football games, concerts and super convenient for just on the go trips.  

I love that you can also unclip the chain and use it as a hand held clutch as well. We recently went out to dinner for my husband’s birthday and I used it this way and loved the look. I felt like it gave my outfit a little more of a dressy style. I love that it instantly dresses up a casual outfit while still maintaining comfort as well. The clutch is a durable accessory that I’m so excited to have added to my wardrobe.


I spotted the tassel bracelet on the Marley Lilly app a couple weeks ago, yes I have their app, because yes I am obsessed with monograms…told y’all! Side note: on their free app you can make your own custom monogrammed backgrounds for your phone. Love it! Anyway, the bracelet is even cuter in person. I received the tan tassel one but they offer several different colors. A lot of the time I am hesitant to order bracelets online cause I have a very small wrist and I’m typically worried that they will be too big. This bracelet is adjustable so it fits perfectly!  Safe to say this is the cutest arm candy I have now!

Marley Lilly Monogrammed Tassel Bracelet
 
Good news, you can snatch your own clutch and bracelet both on sale right now on Marley Lilly’s website as part of their pre-black Friday sale! AND starting today you can also get this blanket scarf for FREE with any one hundred dollar purchase! I love my scarf and I’ve already taken advantage of their pre-sale and filled my cart with lots of fun monogrammed Christmas gifts. 



Have you picked out your Thanksgiving Day outfit for tomorrow? I decided to go with cute but comfortable. We will be having two Thanksgiving dinners just a few hours apart so something lose was definitely a must in my outfit decision. Here in Oklahoma it is supposed to be to pretty warm tomorrow so I’m hoping the forecast holds out for me and I can get away with the dress and boots. 

Thanksgiving Day Style



I wish you all the happiest, most fun Thanksgiving holiday! I am so very thankful for all of you, for reading my blog and for all of your sweet comments. Let the Thanksgiving festivities begin!!

This post was a sponsored review by Marley Lilly, however all opinions were 100% my own.  
You can follow Marley Lilly on Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram and Bloglovin.

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Tuesday, November 25, 2014

Stocking Stuffer Ideas

Stocking stuffers are one of my favorite parts of gift giving. I love to pick out the small little items that will make them smile. Growing up we always opened our stockings at the end of opening presents and we still carry on that tradition. Since they are the last of the gifts I love to see people get happy when they receive fun little gifts that are often, in my own opinion, better than the larger items they may have just opened. My husband's family wasn't big on stockings growing up where as in my family was so I love to stuff his stocking extra full every Christmas. Here are a few ideas I have put together for her and him.
 

 
Stocking Stuffers

 
 
PS: Target has a really cute antler bottle opener as well. It is black and only five bucks! Unfortunately I wasn't able to find it online to include, but I do love the gold one as well. What stocking stuffer ideas do you have? I'm always looking for ideas!
Linking up today with these lovely ladies to share a few of my favorite things for this Christmas!


 
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Monday, November 24, 2014

Recapping My Weekend

I’m gladly welcoming this Monday, hello three day week! This weekend was a good one. Friday evening was spent Christmas shopping. I’m pretty proud of myself for getting such a good start on my shopping this year. Most years I don’t start until well into December so go me! Saturday Oklahoma got so. much. rain. I was certainly glad that I had ended up selling my OU/Kansas tickets since my friend was coming to town, it would’ve been a very wet game in Norman. After Melissa got into town we got ready and headed to dinner with my little sister Caileigh. My sister was sweet enough to drop us off and pick us up from the Eli Young Band concert that night. It was such a fun evening! Me and Melissa started going to see EYB years ago while we were in college. We would drive all over to see them in little small bars before they were bigger like they are now. We’ve seen them probably twenty five plus times and they are still so much fun to see! Sunday Melissa and I went to church, lunch and to Ulta to use the coupon that I posted about on Friday, again. My puppy Bleeker came to visit with Melissa and I got my fair share of cuddles, sorry for the overload of pics of him. I wrapped up the evening with grocery shopping and a movie with Kyle.



Y'all, seriously...Melt my heart!
Today is my little sister’s twenty first birthday! Caileigh, I hope you have had the best birthday ever! I’m so excited to celebrate with you and promise to be your driver soon now! ;) I love you sis!


I hope y’all have a wonderful and hopefully short week as well!
 
 
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Friday, November 21, 2014

My Friday Favorites Love List

Eeek y'all, it's Friday!! My husband is gone on a fishing trip this weekend so I'm a bachelorette with lots of fun girl things planned. Tonight I plan to clean up the house, run a couple Christmas shopping errands, stop by Utla in hopes they have the OPI "Skating on Thin-Ice Land" and guys you can score a $5 off $10 coupon right now at Ulta.com then paint my toes the lovely color, cuddle up on the couch with Chinese food and watch a chick flick. Don't get me wrong, my husband is gone a lot so this is no excuse for all this but its suppose to be rainy all weekend in Oklahoma so it just sounds like a great plan! I sold my OU/Kansas tickets because my best friend is coming to town so we can go to the Eli Young Band concert! AND she's bringing my puppy, such a fun slumber party! Ok ok, five on Friday here I come.
 
ONE & TWO:: Blanket Scarf & J Simpson Allset Heels
 
I had been eyeing them both and finally snagged them. The heels I got on sale for less than half off on Amazon, seriously obsessed with that site. The Dupe Zara blanket scarf came from Groopdealz.com. I wore them out to dinner the other night and I just love both!
 
 

 
THREE: Trader Joe's Pumpkin Caramel Sauce
 
I love everything pumpkin and so when I spotted this I knew I had to try it. We don't have Trader Joe's in Oklahoma so I have to make the best of my trips out of state by always stopping in. Which turns out to be a good thing cause when I fall in love with something delicious it's not just down the street where I can just run and get more. Whew, but this is a must try pumpkin lovers!
 
 
FOUR:: Amazon Black Friday Deals
 
Speaking of my love for Amazon, practically Amazon Prime, hello easy Christmas shopping! BUT Amazon is running early black Friday sales until Black Friday. I'm hoping to score some great deals. Like a cheap TV....that I do not need. You can find some of the deals here.
 
 
FIVE:: Eric Paslay, She Don't Love You She's Just Lonely
 
 
This song has been on repeat in my car for like two weeks straight. Totally and completely in love with it. It really only has another week until Christmas music takes over with me Fa la la la lalala
 
 
As always, linking up with the lovely ladies for Five on Friday and Oh Hey Friday! Have a great weekend everyone!
 
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Tuesday, November 18, 2014

Homemade Fettuccine Alfredo & Blackened Chicken

One night last week I made homemade fettuccine alfredo with blackened chicken, steamed broccoli and salad for dinner, it was delicious if I do say so myself. I typically buy jarred alfredo sauce and add my own spices, sautéed onion and garlic to it but I wanted to try something homemade. I chose to use the Pioneer Women’s alfredo recipe and I do not believe I will ever buy jarred again. The entire meal took forty-five minutes from start to finish and was pretty low maintenance.
Obviously the pasta was not healthy but at least you get away from all the preservatives in jarred sauce this way.


Blackened Chicken

I started with the blackened chicken. I cut one large chicken breast in half, horizontally. I smeared a little olive oil on both sides of each piece. I then mixed together my own seasoning using the following measurements and ingredients:
1/2 tsp paprika
1/8 tsp salt
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
1/4 tsp ground cumin
1/4 tsp dried thyme

I mixed all the spices together and then rubbed both pieces covering with the season mix.
Heat a large skillet on high heat for four minutes. Once extremely hot place both pieces of chicken into the skillet cooking on each side for one minute. Once seared move to a lightly oiled baking sheet and cook at 350 for five to seven minutes, depending on the thickness of your chicken breast.

Fettuccine Alfredo

While the chicken was baking I started my pasta. This recipe makes three servings, which goes a long ways especially since I served it with the chicken and sides. My husband and I ate and had plenty of leftover pasta .  

Ingredients
1/2 pound Fettuccine Noodles
1/2 stick Butter
1/2 cup Heavy Cream
Salt and Pepper, to taste
1 cup Freshly Grated Parmesan Cheese

Directions
Cook pasta according to package directions.
In a saucepan or skillet, warm butter and cream together. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper. I didn't use more than a pinch of salt since the cheese is pretty salty.
Grate Parmesan cheese and place half of it into a large serving bow. Pour warm butter/cream mixture over the top. Do no stir, just let it mesh together!
Drain pasta and immediately pour into bowl. Keep a small cup of the pasta water aside before draining.
Toss a couple of times, then sprinkle in the other half of the Parmesan.
Toss to combine, thinning with reserved pasta water if necessary.
Serve immediately!                    



                                                                                               


Make sure you get a good Parmesan cheese, this will make all the difference in the world. Plus one block can go a long ways and will keep for a while in the fridge so don’t skimp. It was so tasty and will definitely be a repeat dish in our kitchen.
   
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